Planting Planner
Input Mode
Uses browser GPS + NOAA climate data for the most accurate frost dates
USDA Hardiness Zone
Zone 6a (moderate – colder)
Select zone — frost dates update automatically.
Address Lookup (OpenStreetMap)
Frost Dates
Zone: 6a
Last Spring Frost: Apr 20, 2026
First Fall Frost: Oct 15, 2026
178 day growing season
Tuesday, April 21, 2026
Last Spring Frost:
1 day ago
First Fall Frost:
177 days away
🌱 Spring Outlook
• Last spring frost date (April 20) has passed — safe to transplant warm-season crops.
☀️ Summer Growing Season
• Frost-free growing season: ~178 days (Apr 20 to Oct 15).
• Long season — room for succession planting and long-season crops like melons and sweet potatoes.
🍂 Fall Planning
• First fall frost: October 15 — 177 days away.
• Plan fall crops by July 17 (90 days before frost) for best results.
❄️ Winter Prep & Perennials
• Plan ahead: order cover crop seed (winter rye, crimson clover) for planting after summer harvests.
• Start a soil test now — fall amendments have all winter to integrate.
• Zone 6a typical winter low: -10 to 0°F. Choose perennials rated for your zone or colder.
This Week's Tasks
Apr 19 – Apr 25
Direct sow
Chickpeas · Green Beans - Bush · Marigold · Nasturtium · Sweet Corn
Harvest
Radish · Spinach
Transplant
Arugula · Basil · Bok Choy · Chives · Cilantro · Dill · Lemon Balm · Marigold · Mizuna · Mustard Greens · Nasturtium · Oregano · Rosemary · Sage · Tarragon · Tatsoi · Thyme
Crop Name
| Crop | Indoor Start | Transplant | Direct Sow | Harvest Est. | Fall Planting | Soil Temp | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Arugula cool season transplant preferred direct sow part shade tolerant | Mar 9 – Mar 23 | Apr 6 – Apr 20 | Mar 23 – Apr 6 | May 6 – Jun 4 | n/a | 40°F | ☀️/🌤️ tolerates part shade | |
Basil warm season transplant preferred | Feb 23 – Mar 9 | Apr 20 – May 4 | — | Jun 19 – Jul 23 | n/a | 60°F | ☀️ full sun | |
Beets cool season direct sow part shade tolerant fall candidate | — | — | Mar 30 – Apr 13 | May 29 – Jun 17 | Jul 18 – Aug 1 | 40°F | ☀️/🌤️ tolerates part shade | |
Bok Choy cool season transplant preferred direct sow part shade tolerant | Mar 9 – Mar 23 | Apr 6 – Apr 20 | Mar 23 – Apr 6 | May 21 – Jun 19 | n/a | 45°F | ☀️/🌤️ tolerates part shade | |
Broccoli cool season transplant preferred part shade tolerant fall candidate | Feb 9 – Mar 9 | Mar 23 – Apr 6 | — | May 22 – Jun 25 | Jul 3 – Jul 17 | 40°F | ☀️/🌤️ tolerates part shade | |
Cabbage cool season transplant preferred part shade tolerant fall candidate | Feb 9 – Feb 23 | Mar 23 | — | May 22 – Jun 1 | Jul 13 – Jul 27 | 40°F | ☀️/🌤️ tolerates part shade | |
Carrots cool season direct sow part shade tolerant fall candidate | — | — | Mar 16 – Mar 30 | May 20 – Jun 8 | Jul 13 – Jul 27 | 40°F | ☀️/🌤️ tolerates part shade | |
Cauliflower cool season transplant preferred part shade tolerant fall candidate | Feb 23 – Mar 9 | Apr 6 | — | May 26 – May 31 | Jul 28 – Aug 11 | 40°F | ☀️/🌤️ tolerates part shade | |
Celeriac cool season transplant preferred | Feb 9 – Feb 23 | Mar 23 – Apr 6 | — | Jul 1 – Aug 4 | n/a | 45°F | ☀️ full sun | |
Chickpeas cool season direct sow | — | — | Apr 6 – Apr 20 | Jul 5 – Aug 8 | n/a | 50°F | ☀️ full sun | |
Chives cool season transplant preferred direct sow part shade tolerant | Feb 23 – Mar 9 | Apr 6 – Apr 20 | Mar 23 – Apr 6 | Jun 5 – Jul 9 | n/a | 45°F | ☀️/🌤️ tolerates part shade | |
Cilantro cool season transplant preferred direct sow part shade tolerant | Mar 9 – Mar 23 | Apr 6 – Apr 20 | Mar 23 – Apr 6 | May 6 – Jun 4 | n/a | 45°F | ☀️/🌤️ tolerates part shade | |
Clover cool season direct sow | — | — | Mar 23 – Apr 6 | May 22 – Jun 5 | n/a | 40°F | ☀️ full sun | |
Collard Greens cool season transplant preferred | Feb 23 – Mar 9 | Mar 23 – Apr 6 | — | May 22 – Jun 25 | n/a | 45°F | ☀️ full sun | |
Cucumbers warm season transplant preferred direct sow | Apr 6 – Apr 13 | Apr 27 – May 4 | Apr 27 – May 4 | Jun 16 – Jul 3 | n/a | 60°F | ☀️ full sun | |
Daikon Radish cool season direct sow | — | — | Mar 23 – Apr 6 | May 12 – Jun 15 | n/a | 40°F | ☀️ full sun | |
Dill cool season transplant preferred direct sow | Mar 9 – Mar 23 | Apr 20 – Apr 27 | Mar 23 – Apr 6 | May 30 – Jun 26 | n/a | 50°F | ☀️ full sun | |
Endive cool season transplant preferred direct sow part shade tolerant | Feb 23 – Mar 9 | Mar 23 – Apr 6 | Mar 23 – Apr 6 | May 22 – Jun 25 | n/a | 45°F | ☀️/🌤️ tolerates part shade | |
Escarole cool season transplant preferred direct sow part shade tolerant | Feb 23 – Mar 9 | Mar 23 – Apr 6 | Mar 23 – Apr 6 | May 22 – Jun 25 | n/a | 45°F | ☀️/🌤️ tolerates part shade | |
Fava Beans cool season direct sow | — | — | Mar 9 – Mar 23 | May 18 – Jun 21 | n/a | 40°F | ☀️ full sun | |
Field Peas (Cover Crop) cool season direct sow | — | — | Mar 9 – Mar 23 | May 8 – May 22 | n/a | 40°F | ☀️ full sun | |
Garlic cool season direct sow | — | — | Mar 9 – Mar 23 | Nov 4 – Nov 18 | n/a | 35°F | ☀️ full sun | |
Green Beans - Bush warm season direct sow | — | — | Apr 20 – May 4 | Jun 4 – Jun 23 | n/a | 55°F | ☀️ full sun | |
Green Onions (Scallions) cool season direct sow | — | — | Mar 23 – Apr 6 | May 22 – Jun 25 | n/a | 40°F | ☀️ full sun | |
Ground Cherry warm season transplant preferred | Feb 23 – Mar 9 | Apr 27 – May 4 | — | Jul 6 – Aug 2 | n/a | 60°F | ☀️ full sun | |
Hairy Vetch cool season direct sow | — | — | Mar 9 – Mar 23 | May 8 – May 22 | n/a | 40°F | ☀️ full sun | |
Leeks cool season transplant preferred direct sow | Feb 9 – Feb 23 | Mar 23 – Apr 6 | Mar 9 – Mar 23 | Jul 1 – Aug 4 | n/a | 45°F | ☀️ full sun | |
Lemon Balm cool season transplant preferred direct sow part shade tolerant | Feb 23 – Mar 9 | Apr 20 – May 4 | Mar 23 – Apr 6 | Jun 19 – Jul 23 | n/a | 50°F | ☀️/🌤️ tolerates part shade | |
Lentils cool season direct sow | — | — | Mar 23 – Apr 6 | Jun 11 – Jul 15 | n/a | 40°F | ☀️ full sun | |
Lettuce - Leaf cool season transplant preferred direct sow part shade tolerant | Feb 16 – Mar 2 | Mar 23 – Mar 30 | Mar 23 – Apr 6 | May 2 – May 14 | Aug 7 – Aug 21 | 35°F | ☀️/🌤️ tolerates part shade | |
Lima Beans warm season direct sow | — | — | Apr 27 – May 11 | Jul 6 – Aug 9 | n/a | 65°F | ☀️ full sun | |
Luffa (Sponge Gourd) warm season transplant preferred direct sow | Mar 9 – Mar 23 | May 4 – May 11 | May 4 – May 11 | Aug 12 – Sep 8 | n/a | 70°F | ☀️ full sun | |
Marigold warm season transplant preferred direct sow | Mar 9 – Mar 23 | Apr 20 – May 4 | Apr 20 – May 4 | Jun 19 – Jul 13 | n/a | 60°F | ☀️ full sun | |
Melons warm season transplant preferred direct sow | Apr 6 – Apr 13 | May 4 | May 4 | Jul 28 – Sep 1 | n/a | 60°F | ☀️ full sun | |
Mizuna cool season transplant preferred direct sow part shade tolerant | Mar 9 – Mar 23 | Apr 6 – Apr 20 | Mar 23 – Apr 6 | May 16 – Jun 9 | n/a | 45°F | ☀️/🌤️ tolerates part shade | |
Mustard (Cover Crop) cool season direct sow | — | — | Mar 23 – Apr 6 | May 22 – Jun 5 | n/a | 40°F | ☀️ full sun | |
Mustard Greens cool season transplant preferred direct sow part shade tolerant | Mar 9 – Mar 23 | Apr 6 – Apr 20 | Mar 23 – Apr 6 | May 16 – Jun 9 | n/a | 40°F | ☀️/🌤️ tolerates part shade | |
Napa Cabbage cool season transplant preferred part shade tolerant | Feb 23 – Mar 9 | Mar 23 – Apr 6 | — | Jun 1 – Jun 25 | n/a | 45°F | ☀️/🌤️ tolerates part shade | |
Nasturtium warm season transplant preferred direct sow | Mar 9 – Mar 23 | Apr 20 – May 4 | Apr 20 – May 4 | Jun 9 – Jul 13 | n/a | 55°F | ☀️ full sun | |
Okra warm season direct sow | — | — | May 4 – May 11 | Jun 28 – Jul 15 | n/a | 60°F | ☀️ full sun | |
Onion Sets cool season direct sow fall candidate | — | — | Mar 23 – Apr 6 | Jun 11 – Aug 4 | May 24 – Jun 7 | 35°F | ☀️ full sun | |
Oregano warm season transplant preferred | Feb 23 – Mar 9 | Apr 20 – May 4 | — | Jul 9 – Aug 12 | n/a | 60°F | ☀️ full sun | |
Parsley cool season transplant preferred direct sow part shade tolerant | Feb 9 – Feb 23 | Mar 23 – Apr 6 | Mar 9 – Mar 23 | Jun 1 – Jul 5 | n/a | 50°F | ☀️/🌤️ tolerates part shade | |
Parsnips cool season direct sow | — | — | Mar 9 – Mar 23 | Jun 17 – Jul 21 | n/a | 40°F | ☀️ full sun | |
Peas cool season direct sow fall candidate | — | — | Mar 9 – Mar 23 | May 3 – May 27 | Jul 18 – Aug 1 | 40°F | ☀️ full sun | |
Peppers warm season transplant preferred | Feb 9 – Feb 23 | May 4 | — | Jul 13 – Jul 23 | n/a | 60°F | ☀️ full sun | |
Potatoes cool season direct sow | — | — | Apr 6 – Apr 13 | Jun 25 – Aug 11 | n/a | 40°F | ☀️ full sun | |
Pumpkins warm season transplant preferred direct sow | Apr 6 – Apr 13 | May 4 | May 4 | Jul 18 – Aug 12 | n/a | 60°F | ☀️ full sun | |
Radish cool season direct sow part shade tolerant fall candidate | — | — | Mar 23 – Apr 6 | Apr 17 – May 16 | Aug 12 – Aug 26 | 40°F | ☀️/🌤️ tolerates part shade | |
Rosemary warm season transplant preferred | Feb 23 – Mar 9 | Apr 20 – May 4 | — | Jul 9 – Aug 12 | n/a | 60°F | ☀️ full sun | |
Rutabaga cool season direct sow | — | — | Mar 23 – Apr 6 | Jun 11 – Jul 15 | n/a | 40°F | ☀️ full sun | |
Sage warm season transplant preferred | Feb 23 – Mar 9 | Apr 20 – May 4 | — | Jul 9 – Aug 12 | n/a | 60°F | ☀️ full sun | |
Salsify cool season direct sow | — | — | Mar 9 – Mar 23 | Jun 17 – Jul 21 | n/a | 40°F | ☀️ full sun | |
Shallots cool season direct sow | — | — | Mar 9 – Mar 23 | Jun 17 – Jul 21 | n/a | 35°F | ☀️ full sun | |
Spinach cool season transplant preferred direct sow part shade tolerant | Feb 9 – Mar 2 | Mar 9 – Mar 30 | Mar 9 – Mar 30 | Apr 18 – May 29 | Jul 23 – Aug 6 | 35°F | ☀️/🌤️ tolerates part shade | |
Squash - Summer warm season transplant preferred direct sow | Apr 6 – Apr 13 | May 4 | May 4 | Jun 28 – Jul 8 | n/a | 60°F | ☀️ full sun | |
Sweet Corn cool season direct sow | — | — | Apr 20 – May 4 | Jun 24 – Jul 23 | n/a | 50°F | ☀️ full sun | |
Swiss Chard cool season transplant preferred direct sow part shade tolerant | Feb 23 – Mar 9 | Apr 6 – Apr 13 | Mar 23 – Apr 6 | May 26 – Jun 2 | Aug 2 – Aug 16 | 40°F | ☀️/🌤️ tolerates part shade | |
Tarragon warm season transplant preferred | Feb 23 – Mar 9 | Apr 20 – May 4 | — | Jul 9 – Aug 12 | n/a | 60°F | ☀️ full sun | |
Tatsoi cool season transplant preferred direct sow part shade tolerant | Mar 9 – Mar 23 | Apr 6 – Apr 20 | Mar 23 – Apr 6 | May 16 – Jun 9 | n/a | 45°F | ☀️/🌤️ tolerates part shade | |
Thyme warm season transplant preferred | Feb 23 – Mar 9 | Apr 20 – May 4 | — | Jul 9 – Aug 12 | n/a | 60°F | ☀️ full sun | |
Tomatillo warm season transplant preferred | Feb 23 – Mar 9 | Apr 27 – May 4 | — | Jul 6 – Aug 2 | n/a | 60°F | ☀️ full sun | |
Tomatoes cool season transplant preferred | Feb 23 – Mar 9 | Apr 27 – May 4 | — | Jun 26 – Jul 28 | n/a | 50°F | ☀️ full sun | |
Turnip cool season direct sow part shade tolerant fall candidate | — | — | Mar 23 – Apr 6 | May 12 – Jun 5 | Jul 23 – Aug 6 | 40°F | ☀️/🌤️ tolerates part shade | |